Friday, June 20, 2014

A Birthday Post

No, it's not GemsWorldPostcards birthday, it's not PostCrossing's birthday, but it is my birthday. Yes, on this date, June 20th , a number of years ago I happened along. That's one way of putting it, I guess. So I try to get this post written before my family arrives to help me celebrate.

My first card today is from France. It shows cave art from Lascaux. Lascaux is the setting of a complex of caves in southwestern
France famous for its Paleolithic cave paintings. The original caves are
located near the village of Montignac. The art is over 17,000 years old and in 1979, Lascaux was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.

Jean Pierre wrote that Lascaux II was a wonder of nature and history. His stamp is one issued for the 100th Anniversary of the First World War .

My second card arrived from Belgium, and is postmarked Charleroi. Charleroi is a city and a municipality of Wallonia, located in the
province of Hainaut, Belgium. By January 1, 2008, the total population
of Charleroi was 201,593 . Johan's card is a bird's eye view of Antwerp, the second most populous city in Belgium, after the capital Brussels. I do believe that is the Cathedral of Our lady, in the center of the picture. This is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site added in 1999 under the official name of "Belfries of Belgium and France ".

Johan used a couple of the new Belgian stamp celebrating the World Cup now taking place in Brazil. Take note of the special soccer ball cancellation. Pretty cool.

A Book of Trains , the 1951 book by W.J.Bassett-Lowke and F.E.Courtney is up next. It arrived from the Netherlands. The book explains to young people early forms of human transport,
railways, types of locomotives and signalling, streamlining, and other
railway matters. That is Stephenson's Rocket in yellow, alongside Coronation 6220 in red.

Lotte used 2 Netherlands stamps, the left one was issued in 2012 and the other in 2013. The left stamp commemorates 60 Years of the Madurodam in the Scheveningen district of The Hague. It is 1 of 10 in a m/sheet. The second stamp , also 1 of 10 in a m/sheet shows Windmills.

That brings to a close this update. Thanks for cards going out to Jean Pierre, Johan and Lotte. Take care and come back again soon.